Effect of food deprivation on low level hexachlorobenzene exposure in rats.

The purpose of the present study was to determine if food deprivation could modify the biological activity of hexachlorobenzene (HCB) in the rat. Male and female Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups containing 6 animals. Groups 1, 3 and 5 were fed standard control diet ad libitum for 2 weeks. For the next 4 weeks their respective diets contained 0, 20 and 100 ppm HCB. Groups 2, 4 and 6 were also fed a standard control diet for 2 weeks but at an intake of approximately 50% of those groups fed ad libitum. For the following 4 weeks food deprivation was continued but the control diets were replaced with diets containing 0, 40 or 200 ppm HCB. The parameters measured were food, body weight changes, changes in tissue weights, microsomal enzyme activity and histopathology of liver, kidneys, adrenals and pancreas. Tissue residue profiles were established for plasma, liver, brain and adrenals. Food deprivation augmented the induction of microsomal enzyme activity by HCB in both males and females at both dose levels. Liver hypertrophy was observed in both males and females fed 200 ppm HCB and subjected to food libitum. Food deprivation resulted in a higher plasma, liver, brain and adrenal accumulation of HCB in both males and females.